Watch | Heavy rains batter Northern Kerala: Red alert issued, schools closed on July 19
Overflowing Mayyazhi river. | Photo: Arranged
Heavy rains continued to pummel Kerala on Thursday, particularly affecting the hilly regions of the northern Malabar districts. The relentless downpours have caused widespread disruptions across the state, leading to significant damage and multiple emergency responses.
Impact of the heavy rains
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for the northern districts of Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod due to the severe weather conditions. The heavy rains have resulted in flooding, property damage, and minor landslides throughout these regions.
In Wayanad, the intense rainfall has led to the partial damage of over 29 houses. More than 1,000 residents have been moved to 22 relief camps, and the rising water levels in local rivers have heightened the risk of further flooding.
In Kannur, the situation is equally dire. Heavy rains forced the evacuation of 80 people to emergency camps and saw around 71 families seeking shelter with relatives. The rains have also caused severe damage, with 13 houses completely destroyed and 242 partially damaged. In some areas, walls have collapsed, damaging parked vehicles.
In Kasaragod, flooding and other rain-related damages have also been reported, adding to the challenges faced by residents and authorities alike.
Educational institutions closed
Due to the severe weather conditions, the district administrations of Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod have declared a holiday for all educational institutions on Friday,July 19. This decision aims to ensure the safety of students and staff amid the ongoing weather crisis.
Major mishaps
Palakkad: A school bus overturned into a canal, but fortunately, no one was injured, and all children were rescued.
Kozhikode: Visuals showed school children traveling in a jeep that was partially submerged in a waterlogged road, highlighting the severe impact of the rains on daily life.
Ernakulam: A tragic incident occurred as a wild elephant was swept away while attempting to cross a river.
In Kottayam, a duck farmer drowned and died. The deceased was identified as Sadanandan (65), a native of Padiyara Kadavu. In Malappuram, the body of an inter-state labourer who fell into a quarry was found. Dishak Mandik (21) hailed from Odisha.
Weather alerts and warnings
The IMD has issued various weather alerts for different districts:
Red Alert: Severe weather with extremely heavy rain (over 20 cm in 24 hours) for Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod.
Orange Alert: Very heavy rain (6 cm to 20 cm) for seven other districts, including Thrissur and Malappuram.
Yellow Alert: Heavy rain (6 to 11 cm) for the remaining four districts.
The IMD also forecasts moderate rainfall and gusty winds reaching up to 50 km/h in isolated locations.
Coastal warnings
The Indian National Center for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has issued a warning about 2.5 to 3.4 meters high waves and potential storm surges along the Kerala coast, particularly in Kannur and Kasaragod. Fishermen and coastal residents are advised to exercise extreme caution, secure their vessels, and avoid beach activities to ensure safety during the storm conditions.
